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Jung Min-ho

Korea Times Politics & City Reporter

Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.

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Society

Committee calls for lowering requirements for foreigners to teach English online

gettyimagesbankBy Jung Min-hoA regulation reform committee under the Prime Minister's Office has called for the lowering of education requirements for non-Koreans when teaching English online.According to the five-member body, Wednesday, it recommended that the Ministry of Education revise its enforcement ordinance, which requires private academies ― also known as “hagwons” ― to hire foreigners with a bachelor's degree or higher education levels as English teachers.That qualification has been criticized as being discriminatory, given that it does not apply to Koreans who can teach English at hagwons with an associate degree. A four-year degree had been required for both groups until the ministry eased the rule only for Koreans in 2004.The committee's decision comes as online education companies are demanding a rule change. They have complained that the requirement hinders them from expanding their business overseas.One of the popular business models adopted by their competitors based outside of Korea is to connect students with university-attending juniors or seniors ― re

May 31, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Committee calls for lowering requirements for foreigners to teach English online
Sports

Taekwondo star dreams of becoming IOC member

Taekwondo coach Lee Dae-hoon poses in this photo provided by World Taekwondo. Lee, now 31, was one of Korea's most decorated taekwondo stars before his retirement following the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Courtesy of World TaekwondoBy Jung Min-hoAt a glance, Lee Dae-hoon might seem like a sports star who has everything. Before hanging up his uniform after the 2020 Tokyo Games, the 31-year-old was one of Korea's most decorated taekwondo athletes, having won more than 20 gold medals at international events.Yet there is one blemish on his near-perfect career. He could not accomplish his long-sought dream of capturing an Olympic crown. Lee, who is now competing in the World Taekwondo (WT) Championships as a coach in Baku, Azerbaijan, believes that the experience of failure could help his new dream of representing all athletes ― not just the very best of them ― as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).“Most members of the IOC Athletes' Commission were popular and have the experience of winning an Olympic gold medal. Considering their roles, however, I think those who are ab

May 31, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Taekwondo star dreams of becoming IOC member
North Korea

Pyongyang may have delayed spy satellite launch due to technical issues

A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's rocket launch during a news program at Seoul Station in Seoul, Monday. AP-YonhapExperts believe regime still far from developing functional spy satelliteBy Jung Min-hoPyongyang said on Tuesday that it will launch its first military reconnaissance satellite in two weeks to keep track of the U.S.' “reckless” military activities.The announcement means the ambitious plan of North Korea, which was preparing to finish all the necessary preparation by the end of April, has officially been postponed. Speaking to The Korea Times, experts said technical problems might have been the cause of the delay. Given the small size of the satellite, shown in photos released by the regime, and the level of complexity of the project, they also said North Korea still seems far from developing a functional, useful satellite for military purposes.“Given that, unlike April, there are no major political events scheduled for June, it is possible that North Korea delayed the launch due to technical issues,” Shin Jong-woo, a researcher at the

May 30, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Pyongyang may have delayed spy satellite launch due to technical issues
Defense

Japanese destroyer flies controversial flag as it arrives in Korea for joint drill

JS Hamagiri, an Asagiri-class destroyer of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, with the controversial Rising Sun flag hoisted at its stern, is anchored in the Busan Port, Korea, Monday. NewsisBy Jung Min-hoA Japanese warship arrived in Korea, Monday, for a multinational naval drill later this week, bearing a flag that, for many Koreans, symbolizes Japan's past military expansionism and colonization. JS Hamagiri, an Asagiri-class destroyer of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, sailed into Busan Port with the Rising Sun flag hoisted, ahead of the Eastern Endeavor 23 aimed at reinforcing strategic capabilities to prevent and deter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).Japan joins the United States, Australia, Canada, Singapore and Korea for the combined training exercise scheduled for Wednesday in international waters near Jeju Island, a day after the opening of a four-day high-level forum of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) on the island.Many Koreans associate the flag with a long list of atrocious war crimes committed by Japan during its 1910-45 colo

May 29, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Japanese destroyer flies controversial flag as it arrives in Korea for joint drill
Foreign Affairs

Korea's diplomacy put to test amid signs of thaw in US-China relations

This picture shows the Korean, U.S. and Chinese flags. Signs of rapprochement between the world's two superpowers present a new challenge to Korea, according to experts, Sunday. gettyimagesbankSeoul needs dual strategy as it could be left in 'awkward' position: analystsBy Jung Min-hoIn the first cabinet-level exchange between the world's two superpowers in months, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and her Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao said they had “candid and substantive” discussions on trade issues in Washington on Thursday (local time). The meeting followed positive statements made days earlier by U.S. President Joe Biden and the newly arrived Chinese ambassador to the U.S. In a May 21 press conference at the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Biden predicted a near-term “thaw” in commercial relations with China. Additionally, Xie Feng, the new Chinese ambassador known to be moderate, vowed on May 23 to put bilateral relations “back to the right track.” These signs of rapprochement present a fresh challenge to Korea, which has a

May 29, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Korea's diplomacy put to test amid signs of thaw in US-China relations
North Korea

One in five North Korean children suffer from malnutrition: study

Farmers inspect wheat at Kumsong Farm in Onchon County of Nampho City, North Korea, May 23. AP-YonhapBy Jung Min-hoNearly one out of five North Korean children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition, according to a recent international health study.While the rate of stunting ― impaired growth and development manifested by low height-for-age ― of North Korean children in that age group was estimated at 16.8 percent, the rate of wasting ― low weight-for-height, known as the most dangerous form of undernutrition ― was 2.5 percent, according to a report released jointly last week by the U.N. Children's Fund, the World Health Organization and the World Bank Group.The rates are among the highest levels in the world, and far greater than the 1.7 percent and 0.2 percent recorded among South Korean children, respectively. The data indicates that more than 326,000 North Korean children's health is in a dire situation caused by a lack of food.Nevertheless, it was an improvement from 10 years ago, when North Korea was reported to have some 411,300 children suffering from stunting. Meanwh

May 29, 2023By Jung Min-ho
One in five North Korean children suffer from malnutrition: study
Foreign Affairs

Fukushima inspection was Yoon's 'political answer to science question': experts

Yoo Guk-hee, head of the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, speaks to reporters at Incheon International Airport, Friday, after his team's on-site inspection of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan. Yonhap Opposition party begins signature-gathering campaign against release of radioactive wastewaterBy Jung Min-hoA team of Korean scientists have wrapped up a four-day inspection of Japan's plan to release radioactive water into the ocean after treatment, without making a conclusive statement over whether it would be safe.Speaking to reporters upon his return to Korea, Friday, Yoo Guk-hee, head of the inspection team, said that they would need additional time to achieve an accurate safety review regarding the water from the tsunami-damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant before reaching a conclusion. He then suggested the team will likely announce its findings after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) releases its own inspect

May 26, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Fukushima inspection was Yoon's 'political answer to science question': experts
Defense

Hundreds of weapons systems mobilized for ROK-US live-fire drills

M270 multiple rocket launchers fire salvos during combined live-fire ordnance drills between South Korea and the U.S. at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. Courtesy of Ministry of National DefenseFighter jets, tanks, drones, 2,500 soldiers join largest-ever ordnance trainingBy Jung Min-hoMore than 600 weapons systems, including the latest fighter jets, tanks and drones, as well as 2,500 troops from South Korea and the United States participated, Thursday, in the first leg of their largest-ever live-fire ordnance drills.F-35A stealth jets, AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, K2 Black Panther tanks and Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicles of the U.S. were among those mobilized for the exercises conducted at Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, a city less than 40 kilometers away from the inter-Korean border.According to the Ministry of National Defense, the event was part of celebrations for the 75th anniversary of South Korea's military and the 70th anniversary of the Seoul-Washington alliance tha

May 25, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Hundreds of weapons systems mobilized for ROK-US live-fire drills
Foreign Affairs

Korea says size of aid commitment overstated by Ukraine

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, center, attend a session at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, May 21. Seoul said Wednesday that the size of its financial commitment to help Ukraine's reconstruction efforts was exaggerated by Kyiv. EPA-YonhapKyiv withdraws claim that fund from Seoul could reach $8 bil. after complaintBy Jung Min-hoSeoul said Wednesday that the size of its financial commitment to help Ukraine's reconstruction efforts was exaggerated by Kyiv. Speaking to The Korea Times, officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Ukraine's claim that Korea's additional financial support could reach $8 billion by 2024 was simply not true.“Our ministry is considering providing Ukraine with nonlethal equipment such as portable X-ray devices and mine clearing equipment within the limit of $30 million this year, while an additional $100 million loan from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) is under the review of the finance ministry. No other plans have been announced or considered,” an official said.The official &ldq

May 24, 2023By Jung Min-ho
Korea says size of aid commitment overstated by Ukraine
North Korea

US expert calls for radical shift in strategy to rid Pyongyang of nuclear arms

Robert Joseph, center, a senior scholar at the National Institute for Public Policy and former U.S. special envoy for nuclear nonproliferation, speaks during a forum titled, “The 70th Anniversary of the U.S.-ROK Alliance ― Onward Toward a Free and Unified Korea,” on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 17 (local time). Korea Times photo by Jung Min-ho'Any form of diplomacy will fail; regime change is only solution'By Jung Min-hoWASHINGTON ― Since nuclear threats from North Korea started to emerge in the early 1990s, the United States has been trying to resolve the issue through diplomacy. Yet this did not stop Pyongyang from developing nuclear weapons. Today it is estimated to have up to 60 nuclear warheads and its stockpile is expected to continue to grow.This worrisome state of affairs points to a need for a fundamental shift in policy. According to an expert who has been working in nuclear deterrence and nuclear arms control for the past 26 years, the first necessary step for that shift is to recognize that any negotiations or even successful treaties with North Korea will

May 23, 2023By Jung Min-ho
US expert calls for radical shift in strategy to rid Pyongyang of nuclear arms
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